☔️ K’s Rainy Week in Rome: Day Trips, Host Family Life, and Lessons in Planning
Every au pair’s week looks a little different — some are sunny and easy, some are soggy and full of surprises. Here’s a real, unfiltered look at one week from K, an au pair with our Italy program, who spent her time navigating rainy-day school pickups and squeezing in weekend day trips around Rome.
What She Was Grateful For
Traveling around Italy. Even on a busy week, K made time to explore beyond Rome.
The Week’s Biggest Challenge
Having both kids after school when it was raining. Walking two children home safely in a storm isn’t something most au pairs have practiced before — but it’s exactly the kind of everyday problem-solving that builds confidence fast.
A “Wow” Moment
“I added extra hours onto my week to help my host mom.” A small gesture, but a meaningful one — it’s often these moments of flexibility that deepen the trust between an au pair and her host family.
The Full Story
This week was both challenging and fun. It started out rainy and stormy, which brought a new challenge K hadn’t faced before: figuring out the safest way to walk both kids home from school in the rain. She worked out a plan with her host mom, and it became one less thing to worry about going forward.
A Day Trip to Orvieto
Her host family left Friday afternoon for the weekend, so on Saturday K took the train to Orvieto — about an hour outside Rome. It was hot and tiring, but the views were stunning, and she could easily see herself going back if she gets the chance.
A Rainy Sunday in Tivoli
By Saturday night, after a long day of travel and walking (and battling a cold), K was ready to rest. On Sunday, she met up with two fellow au pairs to visit Tivoli — but the rain and a lack of research caught up with them. Most attractions were closed, partly because of the weather and partly because it was a Sunday.
It was a good reminder that a little planning goes a long way. As K put it:
“It’s hard trying to fit everything into three months — there is so much to see and do, I just want to do it all.”
That’s the balance every au pair learns to strike: soaking in daily life with a host family while still carving out time to explore. K and her friends started planning ahead for the coming weekends so they wouldn’t miss out again.
FAQ: Rainy Days and Day Trips as an Au Pair in Rome
What happens on rainy days as an au pair?
Rainy days don’t cancel childcare duties — you’ll still walk kids to and from school and manage the usual routine, just with an umbrella and a bit more planning. Most au pairs work out a rainy-day routine with their host family within the first few weeks.
Is it easy to take day trips from Rome?
Yes. Rome has excellent train connections to nearby towns like Orvieto and Tivoli, many of which are under an hour and a half away, making them popular weekend trips for au pairs with time off.
Should I plan ahead before visiting towns near Rome?
It’s worth checking opening hours and train schedules in advance, especially on Sundays or in bad weather, since some attractions and transport options may be limited.
Do au pairs get to travel during their placement?
Most au pairs have regular time off that they can use to explore their host country, whether that’s day trips near their host city or longer weekend travel.
If stories like K’s — rainy-day problem-solving, spontaneous day trips, and real growth along the way — sound like the experience you’re looking for, living abroad with Rome Abroad in Italy could be your next step.
Part of the Rome Abroad team helping young women live and work abroad as au pairs since 2015.
